Device for ripping off metal crown caps

ABSTRACT

A device for ripping of metal crown caps for closing containers, such as bottles, small glasses, pots or the like, comprises a ringlike grip member integrally formed on the crown cap bottom. The user introduces a finger into the gripping ring to exert a tension thereon for removal of the crown cap. Torsional stresses such as are experienced with known cap devices are thus avoided.

United States Patent inventor Armando Podesta c/o Vetri industrial, via Eustachi, 52, Milan, Italy Appl. No. 831,671 Filed June 9, 1969 Patented Dec. 28, 1971 Priority June 8, 1968 Italy 7087-A/68 DEVICE FOR RIPPING OFF METAL CROWN CAPS 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 215/46 A Int. Cl 365d 41/42,

865d 41/62 Field of Search 215/465 [56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,380,609 4/1968 Potts 2l5/46(.5) X 3,460,701 8/1969 Powalowski 215/46(.5) X 3,480,173 11/1969 Wheaton 2l5/46(.5)X 3,497,097 2/1970 La Sarge 215/46 (.5) X FOREIGN PATENTS 530,766 8/1954 Belgium 215/46 (.5)

Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Att0rneys Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato ABSTRACT: A device for ripping of metal crown caps for closing containers, such as bottles, small glasses, pots or the like, comprises a ringlike grip member integrally formed on the crown cap bottom. The user introduces a finger into the gripping ring to exert a tension thereon for removal of the crown cap. Torsional stresses such as are experienced with known cap devices are thus avoided.

Patented Dec. 28, 1971 1 Illll DEVICE FOR RIPPING OFF METAL CROWN CAPS This invention relates to a device aiding in ripping off metal crown caps.

Various forms of devices or tabs for ripping off crown caps are known, these devices or tabs being provided on the bottom portion of such metal crown caps.

All of these known devices require some care by the user on ripping off, which should be carried out by operating horizontally and axially with respect to the gripping member.

Practically, it was found instead that a user would often instinctively act upon the gripping member by causing it to undergo a torsion from left to right (or vice versa for left-handers), rather than exerting a tension thereon in the abovementioned direction. Thus, the gripping member would break at the base portion thereof, thereby requiring to resort to various emergency means for crown cap ripping off.

In order to overcome such a drawback many expedients have been proposed, such as predetermined fractures, guiding patterns and the like, but such expedients substantially did not avoid the above drawback.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome this and other drawbacks in the known devices for ripping off crown caps by providing ripping off means wherein the gripping member has such a configuration that a user is automatically led to exert the ripping off tension in the correct direction.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a ripping off type of metal crown cap for the closing of containers, particularly glass containers, such as bottles, pots or the like, wherein the gripping member for the ripping off device is made as a ring like member.

Thus, a user is automatically led by introducing a finger into this gripping ring to exert a tension thereon, rather than a torsion as was the case in known devices.

In order to avoid any risk for the user being injured in ripping off operations, the annular gripping member according to the invention is provided to advantage with turned-up edges.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view, showing a crown cap and associated cap according to the invention, prior to being applied on the container.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the crown cap according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the crown cap according to the invention, as applied on a container, the gripping member being shown in ripping-off position.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a one piece metal crown cap is shown at 1, this crown cap being generally of the type as used in association with a plastic cap 2 for closing containers or bottles. The plastic cap 2 has a skirt portion 2a with a circumferential external rib 2b. As

shown, the crown cap 1 has a depending skirt portion 301 that fits around the skirt portion of the plastic cap and engages over the rib 2b. Moreover, the cap 1 is provided on its top portion 101 with a ring tab 201 as obtained by suitable shearing and tuming-up operations of the crown cap top portion, as fully described in the following.

The edges of this ring tab 201 are suitably turned up so as to act to avoid any sharp corners which could injure a user.

As better shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tab 501 projects from the edge of the ring grip 20] side, this tab 50! extending below the edge portion of the crown cap top 101, so as to hold ring 201 in position against casual raising thereof.

The operation of the device as shown is apparent.

The starting position for crown cap ripping off is shown in FIG. 3. Because of the manner by which ring 201 is gripped, the ripping off or tear is automatically effected by exerting a tension on the ring in the plane of the crown cap top, this tension being then continued also on crown cap skirt 30] so that a perfect ripping off of the cap is achieved.

in addition to the foregoing, it will be apparent that gripping is extremely facilitated, it being obviously easier and handier to grip a ring than to grasp a thin tab between one s fingers.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment thereof as shown and described, but embraces all of those changes and modifications which are within the widest scope ofthe inventive concept and substantially as hereinafter claimed.

lclaim:

1. A closure for a container having a neck with a bead surrounding a neck opening, said closure comprising a plastic cap fitting over said neck and having a skirt portion adapted to engage the bead, said plastic cap having a circumferential external rib, and a one-piece metal cap fitting over said plastic cap and comprising a peripheral portion including a depending skirt that fits around the skirt portion of said plastic cap and engages over said rib, and an integral ring portion formed of the same metal as said peripheral portion, said ring portion being radially inwardly of and concentric with said peripheral portion and integrally joined with said peripheral portion at one side only, said ring portion being raisable and pullable to rip said peripheral portion of said metal cap off of said plastic cap and thereby free said plastic cap for removal from said container.

2. A closure according to claim 1, in which an integral portion of said ring portion opposite the side attached to said peripheral portion is bent under and engages below an adjacent portion of said peripheral portion to avoid accidental raising of said ring portion.

3. A closure according to claim I, in which inner and outer peripheral edges of said ring portion are turned under to form rolled edges.

4. A closure according to claim 3, in which said ring portion is spaced radially inwardly of said peripheral portion by the amount of metal required for said rolled edge on the outer peripheral edge of said ring portion. 

1. A closure for a container having a neck with a bead surrounding a neck opening, said closure comprising a plastic cap fitting over said neck and having a skirt portion adapted to engage the bead, said plastic cap having a circumferential external rib, and a one-piece metal cap fitting over said plastic cap and comprising a peripheral portion including a depending skirt that fits around the skirt portion of said plastic cap and engages over said rib, and an integral ring portion formed of the same metal as said peripheral portion, said ring portion being radially inwardly of and concentric with said peripheral portion and integrally joined with said peripheral portion at one side only, said ring portion being raisable and pullable to rip said peripheral portion of said metal cap off of said plastic cap and thereby free said plastic cap for removal from said container.
 2. A closure according to claim 1, in which an integral portion of said ring portion opposite the side attached to said peripheral portion is bent under and engages below an adjacent portion of said peripheral portion to avoid accidental raising of said ring portion.
 3. A closure according to claim 1, in which inner and outer peripheral edges of said ring portion are turned under to form rolled edges.
 4. A closure according to claim 3, in which said ring portion is spaced radially inwardly of said peripheral portion by the amount of metal required for said rolled edge on the outer peripheral edge of said ring portion. 